With the Cleveland Browns not having a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, we turn our attention to three options at pick No. 44 in Round 2.
For life-long fans of the Cleveland Browns, the NFL Draft has pretty much been the only highlight. With so many times of picking in the top-10, or even top five, preparing for the draft has become a way of life.
And while I don’t think the five picks that Andrew Berry gave up getting Deshaun Watson was too much, it’s certainly going to change the strategy of this organization moving forward. This roster is already loaded with talent, so keeping it around will only become more challenging each year.
With huge cap numbers in the 2023 season for Watson and Myles Garrett, it will be interesting to see if Berry is able to find a way to keep a guy like Denzel Ward around. But let’s be honest, would you rather be worried about manipulating the cap space, or not having guys worthy of being paid?
One thing is for sure, the Browns are all in to win a Super Bowl in 2022. And while they have the talent to do just that, we can’t forget that the AFC is absolutely loaded with talent, especially at quarterback. Should Watson miss the first half of the season, these playoff games will likely be in difficult environments.
After losing their next three first-round picks to the Houston Texans, the second-round picks that they do have become all that more important to hit on. This roster is sound now, but there are still a few positions of need.
Here are three guys that could make a lot of sense at pick No. 44 in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Cleveland Browns Pick No. 44 Option No. 3 – Jaquan Brisker, Safety
One position that has been overlooked for the Cleveland Browns in 2022 is safety. They have John Johnson and Grant Delpit, but after that, it gets pretty thin. Richard LeCount showed some promise in 2021, but I don’t think they are anywhere close to cutting him loose next season.
M.J. Stewart has already signed elsewhere, and it appears that Ronnie Harrison will also be on the move for 2022. Should GM Andrew Berry get Jadeveon Clowney locked up and a few other free agents, I could see them utilizing this pick on a safety.
Jaquan Brisker from Penn State could be a really nice fit in the first half of Round 2. He’s an extremely athletic guy who really turned the corner in 2021. He shows great instincts on film and has proven he is more than willing to step in the box for run support as well.
Brisker doesn’t appear to be a guy who is ready to be a day one starter in the NFL, but he has a ton of upside as he continues to really learn the game.
With Joe Wood’s utilizing the three safety look a good amount of the time, something has to happen at this position, I’m just not exactly sure what right now.
Cleveland Browns Pick No. 44 Option No. 2 – Travis Jones, Defensive Tackle
A defensive tackle is another interesting position for the Cleveland Browns in 2022. To begin free agency, it appeared they were content trying to find someone in the draft, but now it appears they may be looking for a veteran free agent to help fill the void.
One thing we know for sure right now is Andrew Berry is going to add another receiver, defensive tackle, and safety we just don’t know where yet. Because of the depth of the position in this draft, I like drafting a defensive tackle at No. 44.
Travis Jones from Connecticut could be the perfect fit here. He isn’t Jordan Davis who likely be swept up in Round 1, but he is a big-bodied guy who can play well against the run. He is 325 pounds and has good strength for his age.
The downside of Jones is he has no ability to rush the passer at the moment. He doesn’t have the quickness of the line to really have any edge vs. an interior pass blocker. But, paired with Taven Bryan the Browns could have one elite player with the two of them combined.
Jones wouldn’t get a ton of snaps, but there is a good chance that he would see the field in running situations.
Cleveland Browns Pick No. 44 Option No. 1 – John Metchie III, Wide Receiver
The Cleveland Browns have already made a splash by trading for wide receiver Amari Cooper, but I don’t think Andrew Berry is anywhere near done yet at the position. Remember, three of the top four wideouts coming into 2021 are now off the roster.
The purge needed to happen, but a major rebuild will also be necessary. By trading for Cooper, Berry took a lot of pressure off drafting a receiver at No. 13, which made the trade for Watson that much easier to justify. But I still wouldn’t be shocked to see them take a wideout at No. 44, especially because the position has so much depth.
John Metchie III is just another Alabama receiver that was likely to go in the first round until an ACL injury in the SEC Championship game. Metchie is expected to make a full recovery, but there is some risk to drafting him, and he likely will slip to Round 2 now.
Metchie is an elite route runner, has great quickness and agility, and isn’t afraid to put his head down and get the extra few yards.
He doesn’t have elite speed, will be coming off an injury, and doesn’t have a ton of size, but could be exactly what the Browns need. Metchie would be a great third receiver and does a great job of getting open over the middle of the field.
Berry has a reputation of finding first-round guys in day two of the draft, and Metchie could be the next steal of the draft.